Stanwell Park, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stanwell Park Wollongong, New South Wales
View from Bald Hill over Stanwell Park valley to Mount Mitchell, and the site of the Sea Cliff Bridge in the background
Stanwell Park Location in New South Wales
Population	1,532 (2021 census)
Established	1824
Postcode(s)	2508
Elevation	33 m (108 ft)
Location	28 km (17 mi) north of Wollongong 59 km (37 mi) south of Sydney
LGA(s)	City of Wollongong
State electorate(s)	Heathcote
Federal Division(s)	Cunningham
Suburbs around Stanwell Park: Stanwell Tops Otford Stanwell Park Pacific Ocean Coalcliff Pacific Ocean

Stanwell Park is a beautiful coastal village and northern suburb of Wollongong, Australia. It sits at the very top of the Illawarra coastline. You'll find it just south of Sydney's huge Royal National Park.

The village is nestled in a small valley. Bald Hill is to the north, Stanwell Tops to the west, and Mount Mitchell to the south. Stanwell Park has two lagoons fed by Stanwell and Hargrave Creeks. There's also a lovely beach between two headlands. Locals often call the area "2508" after its postcode!

A Glimpse into Stanwell Park's Past

The earliest known painting of Stanwell Park, by Henry Grant Lloyd, 1860. (courtesy Mitchell Library)

Stanwell Park beach, around 1900

Stanwell Park got its name from a farm started by Matthew John Gibbons in 1824. He received land in an area once called Little Bulli. This included what is now Stanwell Park and Coalcliff. The whole northern Illawarra region was known by the Aboriginal name Bulli.

First People and Early Explorers

The Wodiwodi clan of the Tharawal people originally lived here. They are Aboriginal people. Later, three shipwrecked sailors survived an amazing journey along the coast. They were rescued north of Stanwell Park. Two of their friends couldn't get past the steep Coal Cliffs, where the Sea Cliff Bridge is today. Explorer George Bass found their remains and also noticed the rich coal in the cliffs.

Bushrangers and Governors

A convict named John Paid managed the Stanwell Park farm for Mr Gibbons. But Paid used the quiet valley as a hideout for his gang of bushrangers. Bushrangers were outlaws who lived in the bush and robbed people. Paid called himself Wolloo Jack. His gang caused trouble in areas like Bargo and Liverpool. He and other gang members were caught and punished in 1829.

In 1822, Governor Lachlan Macquarie visited Stanwell Park. He was amazed by the view from the mountain top. He saw the ocean, islands, and most of the Illawarra lowlands. He also noted the huge, beautiful forest trees.

Famous Residents and Developments

The valley continued to attract important people. Major Sir Thomas Mitchell, a famous Australian explorer, built the first house here. Later, Supreme Court Judge John Fletcher Hargrave owned land and holidayed in the area. His family's inheritance went to Lawrence Hargrave. Lawrence Hargrave was a very important aviation pioneer in the 1890s. He did many of his most important experiments right here in Stanwell Park. He moved to Hillcrest House in 1893, which is on the road to the Stanwell Park railway station.

A land developer named Henry Halloran bought a lot of land in Stanwell Park. He divided it into smaller blocks to sell to people from about 1907 to 1930. The local public school opened in 1917.

The Amazing Railway Viaduct

One of the village's most famous sights is the curved railway viaduct. It crosses the Stanwell Creek Gorge. It was built in the 1910s because the old railway track had problems. The new track had to be built higher up the mountain. This viaduct is 65 meters above the creek. It's surrounded by thick rainforest and made from about five million bricks! It's the largest railway viaduct in Australia.

Today, Stanwell Park is home to about 1,400 people. Many people live here and travel to nearby Sydney or Wollongong for work. It's also a popular spot for tourists.

Heritage Sites to See

Stanwell Park has some special places listed for their history. These include:

• The Stanwell Creek railway viaduct on the Illawarra railway line.

Who Lives in Stanwell Park?

In 2021, there were 1,532 people living in Stanwell Park. Most people (81.3%) were born in Australia. Almost everyone (89.4%) spoke only English at home. When asked about religion, 50.5% said they had no religion. 19.2% were Catholic, and 11.9% were Anglican.

Fun Things to Do in Stanwell Park

The village has a small area with shops and an art gallery on Lawrence Hargrave Drive. You can go bushwalking on several tracks. The Wodi Wodi Track climbs Mount Mitchell from the station. There's also a track to Stanwell Tops Lookout from the station.

Adventure Sports and Beach Fun

Stanwell Park is famous for paragliding and hang gliding. People launch from Bald Hill and glide down to the beach. The beach is tucked between tall sea cliffs. You can also go Rock climbing at Stanwell Tops, which has great views of the village.

The beach has two lagoons, which are like small lakes connected to the sea. The Helensburgh-Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) helps keep the beach safe. They also run fun activities like the Nippers program for kids on Sundays in summer.

Local Arts and Theatre

The Stanwell Park Arts Theatre, or S.P.A.T, started in the early 1970s. They put on all kinds of shows, including plays, musicals, and their popular annual Christmas pantomime.

Getting Around

Stanwell Park has its own train station, Stanwell Park railway station, on the South Coast railway line. The train line curves around the village and crosses Stanwell Creek on the historic brick viaduct.

Views from Bald Hill

Bald Hill, at the end of Lawrence Hargrave Drive, offers amazing views. You can see the Northern Illawarra area and the escarpment. During whale season, many visitors from Sydney come to watch the whales. It's also a great spot for long-distance radio communication because of its wide views.

Amazing Attractions to Visit

Symbio Wildlife Park

Symbio Wildlife Park is on Lawrence Hargrave Drive, near Stanwell Tops. It's home to over 1,000 native Australian animals, exotic animals, and farm animals. You might have seen it in music videos or TV shows! The park has a cafe, souvenir shop, and free swimming pools and barbecues.

Sri Venkateswara Hindu Temple

Just east of Symbio Wildlife Park is a turnoff to the Sri Venkateswara Hindu Temple. This was Australia's first Hindu Temple, opening on June 30, 1985. It's located on a large, peaceful site. This spot was chosen because it fit Hindu traditions: it's quiet, near water, elevated, in the bush, and on untouched land. An Indian architect named Janakiramana Sthapati designed the temple. His family has been designing temples since the sixth century!

Historic Buildings and Waterfalls

At Bald Hill, you can see Intabane Mansion. This building has a unique "witches hat roof" and stands out from the valley below. It was built in 1917 and used as an army lookout during World War II. Between the wars, it was a guest house.

Another attraction is Kelly's Falls, which has a viewing platform where you can see the waterfall.

Exploring Walking Tracks

There are several walking tracks to explore. The Stanwell Tops lookout track goes from Stanwell Park train station up to the Peace Garden. Here, you might find historic Aboriginal carvings on trees. It continues to the Stanwell Tops Lookout.

Another track is the Wodi Wodi, Bullock, or Mount Mitchell Track. This track goes down to Stanwell Creek, around the viaduct, and up Mount Mitchell. On the Wodi Wodi track, you might see an Aboriginal drawing of a whale and ancient shell middens (piles of shells left by Aboriginal people). You can also reach Bald Hill from a track on Chellow Dene Avenue.

Famous People from Stanwell Park

Over the years, several notable people have lived in Stanwell Park or started their lives here.

• Kalani Ball – A professional surfer who grew up in the village.
• Lawrence Hargrave – A pioneer in aviation who lived and did much of his famous research here.
• Joe Hockey – A former important government official in Australia.
• Peter Jackson – A rugby league player and sports commentator.

Images for kids

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  Aerial view from the west